For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Della Cassia
248-305-3770
Detroit Public Television Premieres Film on Local Holocaust Survivor;
Caps Day of Jewish Stories, Sunday, August 17
DETROIT (August 12, 2014) – This Sunday, Detroit Public Television (DPTV) presents the broadcast premiere of Eli: Inspiring Future Generations at 8 p.m. A survivor of the Holocaust and former Detroiter, Eliezar Ayalon was given a cup of honey by his mother when she sent him away from the Polish ghetto, telling him to spread hope into the lives of others. The 30-minute film, from Detroit producer Allyson Rockwell, shares Eli’s stories of enlightenment with future generations.
The premiere caps a day of three epic documentaries, starting at 12:30 p.m. and going through 9 p.m., showcasing Jewish history throughout the world, the contributions of the Jewish community to southeast Michigan, and presenting the story of Eli to spread a message of hope.
This special Sunday broadcast starts with The Story of the Jews, a sweeping five-part PBS series from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. in which historian Simon Schama travels the world to explore Jewish history and the contributions that Jewish culture has made. The film draws on primary sources that include the Elephantine papyri, a collection of 5th-century BC manuscripts illuminating the life of a town of Jewish soldiers and their families in ancient Egypt; the astonishing trove of documents — the Cairo Geniza — recording the world of the medieval Jews of the Mediterranean and Near East; the records of disputations between Christians and Jews in Spain; correspondence between the leader of the Arab revolt during World War I, Emir Feisal, and the leader of the Zionist movement, Chaim Weizmann.
The Story of the Jews will be followed at 6:50 p.m. by Detroit Remember When: The Jewish Community. This film by award-winning filmmakers Sue Marx and Allyson Rockwell, explores the history, cultural, and civic contributions of the Jewish community to the entire southeast Michigan region. Through interviews with historians, archival photos, and home movies, it traces the rise and growing importance of Jewish Detroit from the late 1700s through the city’s growth and boom years. The piece culminates in the present as members of the community help lead the reinvention of the region in the 21st century.
Jewish Stories will conclude with the broadcast premiere of Eli: Inspiring Future Generations at 8 p.m.
Both Eli: Inspiring Future Generations and Detroit Remember When: The Jewish Community will stream live online at: http://www.dptv.org/jewishstories
For more information, visit www.dptv.org or contact Della Cassia at dcassia@dptv.org or 248-305-3770.
About Detroit Public Television
Detroit Public Television (DPTV) is the non-commercial, viewer-supported PBS-member station watched by more than 1.5 million people in Detroit and Southeast Michigan and another 1.2 million people throughout Canada. DPTV also manages WRCJ 90.9 FM, Detroit's classical and jazz radio station, in collaboration with the license-holder, the Detroit Public Schools. The radio station is located in the Detroit School of Arts. DPTV is licensed to the Detroit Educational Television Foundation and governed by a volunteer board of trustees from the local business, civic, and cultural communities.
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